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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
In a bid to maintain serene and habitable environment, free from security incidents,the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce has demolished shanties along Lekki coastal road and environs, which are areas mapped to serve as an alternate route to motorists.
The demolition exercise, which took place between Monday night and early hours of Tuesday, was led by the Cchairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye.
According to Jejeloye, the demolition took place after an eviction notice was served to the illegal occupants who had constructed makeshift structures right under high tension cables running through the area.
He pointed out that the shanties not only constitute health and safety risks to residents of the area, but also serves as a haven for criminals who make use of such locations as hideouts.
“This is the third major enforcement we are carrying out in this very location as we were here two years ago and even last year. Some of the kiosks are built under the high tension cable, which is very dangerous,” he said.
The chairman also disclosed that the shanties, which were built with woods, caught fire some weeks ago and led to the partial burning of a building across the fence where the shanties are located.
“It would have been a more serious incident if not the quick intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service who put out the fire which started off from the shanties.
“Gross disregard for safety precautions would always give room to unsafe conditions, that is why we have come to put an end to it today,” Jejeloye said.
He assured Lagosians and residents of Lekki coastal axis that the shanties would never be allowed to spring up again, promising to station the agency’s men to the axis forthwith.
Jejeloye further appealed to residents and Community Development Associations in the area to collaborate with each other and come up with sustainable plans like employing private security men to monitor the axis in order to prevent unscrupulous individuals from erecting such makeshift structures.
He promised that the agency will not rest on its oars till criminality is stamped out and the environment is free from activities that could lead to the loss of lives and property.